Twitter is everywhere.  New Twitter applications, additions, and syndication tools have made communicating your value and creating relationships amazingly simple.

Simple, but not necessarily easy. I’m sure that most of you already have a Twitter account, but are you leveraging it?  I only tweet a couple of times a day and I’m not a twitter fanatic, but certainly see the value in growing your followers.   Randy Gage, a colleague “@Randy_Gage” has really leveraged Twitter. He sent out a tweet and within an hour he had 150,000 people visit his Prosperity Blog.

Here are a few tips to help you leverage Twitter as a professional.

10 Tips for Leveraging Twitter

1. Create a custom background image and set up your Twitter Profile properly in the settings tab. Your bio information is vital when people are making a decision to follow you or not. Tell people what you do and how you help or work with others.
2. Focus on adding value and topical relevant tweets. Don’t make it all about you and your company and don’t post the same type of update over and over. Post useful and helpful information that others will see has value.
3. Don’t tweet that you’re at Starbucks, because unless you’re famous (and I’m not talking about just in your own mind) nobody cares.
4. Respond with a direct message when someone sends you a personal direct tweet.
5. Retweet other tweets  you think are interesting. Not only is it beneficial and flattering to the person you are retweeting, but it is another way of sending your followers relevant, helpful and valuable advice and information. Just remember to add your own voice as well.
6. Make sure you share a variety of information in your tweets. Talk about your business, but balance it out with tweets that will help people get to know you as a person.
7. Get a desktop or smartphone application to help you manage your Twitter account. If you are serious about social media marketing and follow more than 100 people, you’ll need an app likeTweetDeck .  I use Tweetdeck for my laptop computer and for my Iphone I use Tweetie. Twitter Apps have many benefits, including ways to organize people, messages, and other information that might otherwise be overwhelming. The wide variety of apps available today assures there is one that is right for you and your purposes.
8. Follow people. As you follow more people, more people will follow you. That’s just the way it goes. People are interested in Twitter Friends – those they can follow and who will follow them back. There are services that will let you automatically follow those who follow you. Check out Socialtoo or socialoomph. Also, services like www.Twellow.com, the yellow pages of Twitter, are a great place to find people to follow.
9. Don’t send “Auto Thank You” direct messages to people. The only thing they are good at is annoying people. It also gives many people a reason to UNfollow you because you appear more like a robot than a real person.
10. Join in Twitter conversations with others by sending replies to interesting posts, or even a direct e-mail or message.

Post your Twitter Tips and comments below… You know how important “link-backs” are…

I’d bet that many of you would classify your efforts with Social Networking as “social NOT working.”

It’s NOT working until you engage in conversations, spread your expertise, and most importantly “add value.” With hundreds of social media sites out there, it’s hard to maintain focus and really add value and stay active on every site.

So, start by focusing your efforts on these top five social media sites.  Here is a brief overview.

1. YouTube.com

This is the most popular video content sharing site. If you’re new to YouTube, go get your channel, which is to say go sign up for your account  – your account name is your channel name so select it wisely. It’s better to have a keyword phrase or your name than it is to have your name with a number or something obscure. For example, I have a few channels, but my main channel is www.youtube.com/primeconcepts (go subscribe now).   I also have www.youtube.com/fordsaeks, but too many people spell my name wrong so I send the traffic to the Prime Concepts channel. There are several other popular video sharing sites each with their own theme, but master YouTube first.  Then you can leverage your efforts on other video sharing sites, using sites such as www.TubeMogul.comfor starters. Share value-added content and watch your business grow.

More on Youtube marketing on future postings…

2. Facebook

Facebook is the most popular “social community type” site.I’m sure that most of you reading this have your Facebook account by now. If not, join the 350 million people currently using Facebook and get with the program. Set up a Facebook Fan Page and join groups that focus around your subjects of interest. Start by visiting, listening and exploring. It’s about participation, community, and networking. Set your privacy settings accordingly and don’t abuse your friends list with constant promotions about your latest product or event. You’ll monetize your efforts once you participate in guiding connection and encouraging relevant dialogue.

3.LinkedIn

Another important type of social media site is focused around professional networking. www.LinkedIn.com is a great business development tool with it’s own unique advantages. Again, get your account, set up your profile and invest in creating a network of professionals that can help you make new contacts. Sure, you can add your buddies and coworkers, but you should think beyond that to the types of clients you want to reach. For example, one of my clients wanted to reach the CEO of a top name brand company – traditional methods had failed. I sent a Linkedin invitation to connect and within 15 minutes was accepted into this CEO’s personal network, was able to start a dialogue that is now leading to a multi-million dollar proposal. Go to your profile now and make sure its updated and create new connections.

4. Your Blog

You have one… right?  If not, why not?  Preferably you have a wordpress blog as part of your regular website because of the popularity and the many add-ons that are available for syndication and ease of use. If you can e-mail, you can blog.  The key is to use multiple forms of content, from text to audio and video, which inspire thought, encourage comments and link backs to your blog. Your blog also has huge search engine optimization benefits if you title, tag and post valuable content.  It’s better to post shorter targeted posts more regularly than long posts monthly.  They become great content management systems (CMS) that you can manage without the high costs of web developers.

5. Twitter

Then there is the  micro-blogging site www.Twitter.com. Sure, you probably have an account, but how effective has it been for you? A great resource is the book by Joel Comm Twitter Power: How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time
”

If you build your follower list and tweet something your followers can use at least once a day, you will quickly establish your position as an expert and the go-to person for advice and information in your field.

Post your favorite SMM site and why?   Or let me know what your biggest question is about Social Networking and I’ll address it on future posts.

Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and LinkedIn are just a few of many Social Media Web sites that are quickly growing in size and popularity.  Most likely you or someone in your family has an account on one or all of these sites. But, just like in the real world, not everyone wants to be your friend online. I think this short shocking video makes my point…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click to the link below to read more and post your comments

Now while that video may be disturbing to some people, the point is that you need to use caution when using the Social Media Networks.

This is not to say you should not participate on the Social Media sites, you just need to learn to be safe online.  Now, thanks to an IT security professional who made it his mission to make the Internet safe by 10/10/10, there is a Web site that can help you take a few simple steps to make yourself safer online.

Families, children and Internet users in general now have the opportunity to learn to be safer online with the free Internet safety tips and tricks found on http://www.learntobesafeonline.com. This site offers simple, short how-to videos that everyone can understand. Each tutorial has information for both Apple Mac users and Windows users on topics such as: Facebook Safety, Anti-Virus Tips, Twitter Safety, LinkedIn Safety and Wireless WiFi Security.

The sole purpose of this web site is to protect Internet users from the small number of people making the Internet an increasingly dangerous place for everyone else. The “Learn to be Safe Online” Web site is a meaningful tool for all Internet users who want to protect themselves, their families and their information. The philosophy behind “Learn to Be Safe Online” is that since we all use the Internet, it should be a safe place to work, learn and play.

Take a few minutes out of your day to watch a couple of the videos found on http://www.learntobesafeonline.com. If you learn even one tip you can use to protect yourself or your family, your time was well spent.

500,000 million people on facebook… you, your friends and your prospects and clients.  Not only should you us caution with your Facebook profile, but you should make sure that you aren’t using the same passwords for all of your website access. Video makes the point…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Okay, now go and make sure your online passwords are unique and secure.   Then get back to your marketing efforts!

Learn more about how to protect yourself online at www.Learntobesafeonline.com

Keywords Drive Traffic.

If you ever attended one of my Internet Marketing Seminars then you know that “Keywords Drive Traffic” is my online marketing mantra.  This short blog post is focused around the importance of using your keywords (and keyword phrases) for social media marketing.

This starts with understanding that keywords drive traffic, but with social media marketing it’s not the typical usage of driving  traffic to get people to buy a product or service.

In fact, if that’s all you’re trying to do with social media networking than you are approaching social media with the wrong perspective and will waste a ton of time.

Social Media Markeing is all about relationships, adding value, joining the conversation and getting and giving feedback.

With Social Media the words you use in your profiles, account names, tags, blog titles & descriptions, user groups, and other posts all help you expand your digital footprint.

The top 5 Social Media sites that I recommend you focus your efforts are  Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, LinkedIn and Your Blog.  There are thousands of others and depending on your niche or focus area, there may be a few others that you want to leverage, but how many more in-boxes and accounts do you really need to manage?

Okay… first thing about keywords is that you should be focusing on keyword phrases of at least 2 to 5 words. Most people search for at least 3 or more words so they get better search results.  So when you are on the user account settings screen in twitter, facebook and linked in, and youtube, make sure you take the time to completely fill out your profile and use keywords so that your account will get properly cataloged and make it easier for people to connect with you.

When you post a video to YouTube (subscribe to my YouTube Channel www.Youtube.com/primeconcepts for other internet marketing videos), make sure you work your keywords into the video title and video descriptions… don’t try to manipulate the listing, just use compelling copy and work in your keywords.   Tags are critically important too… and tags are just keywords to help users find related content.  In YouTube make sure you put quotes around your tags when you have multiple words. For example, if I use a tag with my name Ford Saeks, and don’t use quotes, the site engines see FORD as a single word, and I don’t sell cars or need unwanted traffic,  so use “quotes for multiple words” to make the keyword phrase tag the search element.

On Twitter, make sure you go to the settings screen and fill out your Name, URL and Bio line.  Especially if you have a more common name. That way, when others are searching to find YOU, they can identify which twitter account to follow.

When you make tweets, and use keywords, you’ll attract readers that are searching for or following the same topics.  Same goes for Facebook and Linkedin, you need to revisit your profiles and update them with keywords so other people can find and connect with you.  And of course, when you blog, you should work in your keywords into your titles

Jot down your top 25 to 50 keyword phrases. Keep the list handy during your Social media networking. And most importantly, Always write for the site visitor FIRST, and then for the search engines. If you have great content, share it, and engage in conversations you’ll be well on your way to monetizing your Social Media Marketing Efforts.

What do you think?  Post your comments below.

First, the buzz was all about having a website, then came email marketing, instant messaging and blogging followed by MySpace and now thousands of Social Media & Networking Sites.

With all of the Social Media Sites growing exponentially, I’m frequently asked if they can really help build a business… Yes, they can. Sure you have to take the time to learn the unique nuances of each site, their purpose and how the community interacts, but Social Networking is here to stay and is only going to get bigger.

I’ve focused more on Youtube, FaceBook, and LinkedIN, but lately, all of the buzz has been about www.Twitter.com

I set my account up months ago but didn’t Tweet (post) much at all. Today, after presenting for the Publicity Society of America (PRSA) at their national convention I was amazed how many people were talking about how they were using Twitter effectively. View it at www.Twitter.com/Prime_Concepts

So tonight I updated my Twitter profile, created a custom page background, posted a few Tweets, linked a few favorites and downloaded a small application to my Iphone.

I searched for my name “Ford Saeks” and found several people that had tweeted (sorry, I’m not used to that term yet) with quotes from my presentation. From there, I found more blog postings about me too. What a great way to stay connected to your customers and more importantly your “brand”. (watch Twitter Video >>)

Twitter feeds help you keep your customers, prospects and suspects engaged and up to date too. It’s not a replacement for a blog or your site, but it gives savvy marketers and thought leaders another way to stay connected and build their brand.

So, for those of you already Twitter experts, I compliment you on your efforts. For the rest of you, start now, but to get a quick explanation on how to use twitter watch this Youtube Video. It explains Twitter in Plain English…

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o]

On Twitter? Follow me at www.Twitter.com/Prime_Concepts Also, tell me what you think? Post a comment on this blog below.

Using Relevant Keywords is the Most Important Element to Increase Your Site Traffic

Everyone I talk to as an Internet Marketing Consultant wants to know how to get more site visitors from search engines.  It starts with a basic understanding of how the search engines work-or rather what their responsibility is to their user-the searcher.

The search engine’s job is to provide the best and most relevant results to the person using their search engine to find solutions to their searches. To do that they need to catalog a site’s content and while there are every-changing algorithms for top rankings a critical element for search engine optimization (SEO) is the content, which of course is made of WORDS.

Those words when filled with your “keywords” make up your content.  Knowing which words to use and where to put them on your site is a huge element of SEO to get more traffic.   Keywords and keyword phrases are the same thing.

Here are a few tips for keyword success:

1. Make a list of the main types of prospects you want to attract.

Create a marketing profile for the typical prospect and customer for your business in a word doc. Get as specific as you can so you can put yourself in the “mindset” of the type of people you want to attract.  Ask yourself and evaluate what keywords you think they would type into a search engine to find you, your products or services.

2. Do your research.

Look at your website statistics because that will show you what words people are using now to find you. It doesn’t mean they are the best words, but your stats will show you what keyword phrases they are using now.  We use “Google Analytics” for sites. It’s a free service, easy to implement and offers a ton of benefits.

You want targeted traffic that will convert into customer leads and sales.  Many years ago I optimized my Internet Marketing Speaker website for my name “Ford Saeks” but because my first name Ford is also a major automotive company I was receiving tons of spill over traffic for people looking for Ford cars and Ford car parts, and not my professional services to help people improve their marketing results and profits.  The keywords we use now are related and relevant to what our prospects and customers are searching for to find our solutions.  The research results, our site statistics and usage of the popular keywords research tools all help us optimize our sites for top rankings.

Two of my favortite Keyword tools are:

Google Keyword Tool Sandbox:
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

and the WordTracker Free Keyword Tool

There are several other sources for keyword research and they all offer specific advantages and benefits. WordTracker’s Free Keyword Tool and  Google’s Sandbox Tool will keep you busy for a while and help you create a nice list of keywords.

3. Use your Keywords on your website content, blog headlines and postings, articles, media releases, and social media website profiles.

Remember, keywords… sorry scratch that… The right keywords, meaning most relevant keywords that your prospects would type into a search engine are what you want in your content.  This includes the content on your website and any content that you place on other people’s website.

For exampke, if you have your company profile or products listed on directory sites or association listings you want to include relevant keywords.  If you have a blog then your blog headlines and blog postings or comments you place on other people’s blogs should include relevant keywords.  If you are using Social Media Marketing Websites — like FaceBook, Linkedin, YouTube, MySpace, and many others to grow your business — then you need to include your relevant keywords in your profiles and postings.

Make certain that your webmaster understands the proper SEO elements necessary for top rankings so you can take advantage of your keywords.  Or hire an SEO Specialist like me, Ford Saeks, to help you and your organization dramatically improve your search engine rankings and make more money. There are 7 critical places you must place your keywords to get top rankings.  One of the best places on your site is the PAGE TITLE and it must be unique on every page.

I explore over 10 other keyword research and SEO strategies going into much more detail on finding the best keywords, including the seven critical places you must use your keywords to increase your targeted site traffic on Keyword Secrets: 60-Minutes to Simple Keyword Success Audio.

Also, WordTracker offers a 7-day free trial and 7 free keyword videos and a Keyword Basic’s Guide that you and your webmaster will find extremely helpful.  I guarantee it!  

Start Now. Add a comment below on this blog posting with your top keywords and put a link to your website.  This will give you an in-bound link that also helps your site rankings.

The real power of Social Media Marketing (SMM) is the “social” part meaning that anyone with the desire can now become a publisher, host or broadcaster of content. There are new SMM sites popping up daily.

Just visit www.Go2Web20.net and you’ll find thousands of sites on every topic imaginable. Eventually, there will be a few winners and a ton of losers. It’s easy to get carried away and jump at every new site, but before you waste a ton of your time — think about the purpose and outcome of your efforts.

For me, as an Internet Marketing Speaker with new topics on Social Media Marketing presentations, It makes sense for me to research and become an active member on several sites.  My role is to evaluate the effectiveness along with the pros & cons, and determine the best way to use them to help my clients grow their business. This goes way beyond the purpose of branding, claiming your space and protecting your image to attracting new customers and creating new relationships with prospects in your target markets.

I’m curious what you think… so take a second and fill out the quick form below and tell me which Social Media Web Site, if any, is your favorite and why? 

For you Social Media Marketing buffs… another day… another social media site… and they all need your profile information to help you benefit from the site and help you drive traffic to your other sites.

The SMM site of the day is http://www.naymz.com/ and it offers you the opportunity to tell the world why you are talented, valuable, and unique.  What I like about Naymz is that it allows information to be verified, and as such, should become a trusted resource.

Anybody can post information about themselves on the Internet.  This site allows the people who are closest to you to vouch for your reputation.  Through the power of the Naymz Reputation Network, you can now allow others to verify the information you claim about yourself.

You can view my profile at http://ford.saeks.name/  I signed up for the premium service option because of the reports and other features.   When someone visits my profile at http://ford.saeks.name/  I get detailed information about who is visiting my personal profile.  It’s pretty cool and a bit scary at the same time.

More about http://www.naymz.com/

Naymz helps others find all of your online content in one convenient place.  It allows you to publish a directory of links and feeds to your company website, blogs, social networks, online photo albums, bookmarks and any other items that define you.  You can build your professional profile by adding an up-to-date bio, favorite photo, current employer and contact information. 

The first place employers and colleagues are going to look for information about you is within Google and the other search engines.  Naymz will optimize and submit your profile to the major search engines so others will be able to find the most up-to-date and accurate information about you.  Naymz also provides RSS feeds and badges to help others keep up with you.

Personal information by and about professionals is getting added to the Internet every day at an ever-increasing rate.  Through their Reputation Monitor, Naymz can help you keep an eye out for personal online information that is published that contains information about you.

Time will tell how many of these sites last. This one has merit to me because it helps protect my online identity.  As an Internet marketing specialist who presents around the globe, it’s common for others to use my name to drive traffic to their site, even though I don’t know them or appreciate them doing so.  Sure, I could spend all day sending cease and desist letters (and do in some cases), but I’ve got better things to do… like grow my business.

Action Items of the Day:

1. Visit my profile at http://ford.saeks.name/

2. Set up your own http://www.naymz.com/ account and then if you know me, give me an endorsement and I’ll endorse you.

What are your favorite Social Media Sites? What do you think about creating online profiles?  Share your comments below.

The rules are changing and business models are evolving fast!

As a marketer… the buzz, hype and hysteria about Web 2.0 is similar to the Dot Com explosion of the late 1990s.   Everyone was scrambling to claim their space.  Experts were everywhere and multiplied exponentially as everyone rushed to create their sites. They started off simple, then got crazy with colors and animated .gifs, and we’ve all watched as the web evolved into one of the best business-building and social mediums in the world.  

Why do I think you should pay attention to Web 2.0?  Because if you’re a savvy business owner, marketing professional, entrepreneur, or corporate executive you’ll miss the next big wave on the Internet that can help you build your business.

It seems like every day there are more and more Social Media Marketing sites popping up.  Don’t take my word for it… visit http://www.go2web20.net/ and check it out.   It’s a search engine for Web 2.0-type sites.   It’s mind-boggling!

If you’re not familiar with Web 2.0, you can watch a five-minute explanation video at the end of this posting.  It explains Web 2.0 in technical terms… some things make you smarter… but won’t really help you grow your business.

As someone who wants to make more money using the Internet, just skip the video. What’s really important is the transition from the original Web 1.0 model of using your website to communicate value…  to the addition of Social Media sites where users congregate to discuss interests, share photos, share videos, post opinions, interact and of course… socialize.  

Those captive audiences are a marketer’s dream, but there are new rules for Social Media Marketing and they are changing, adapting, and specific to each type of site.  I’ll cover more about those rules and the etiquette of the main Social Media sites in a minute. 

 You’re familiar with the business model of Web 1.0 (web designers build your site):

1. Build a Site

2. Drive Traffic

3. Build a List

4. Make Money

Web 2.0 business model: (I still suggest you have your own company website AND you need to create a presence on the Social Media sites that make sense for your business, industry, topic area, and customer profile. If your customers and prospects are there… and they no doubt are… if you don’t claim your space your competition will, and you’ll miss out on the next wave on the net.)

In a nutshell, Web 2.0 sites are free and low-cost sites that allow users with little to no technical expertise to create content, profiles, pages and share all types of photos, videos and other media.  That’s why they are spreading and growing so fast, because anyone with a web browser and a little time can build web pages, create links, and create and expand their “Internet footprint.”  

Can Web 2.0 be used to build your business? It sure can… any medium that promotes communication and has a grouping of people will be a resource for finding, attracting, and improving relationships with your customers and prospects.  Not to mention how interesting and helpful some of the sites can be for pre-screening hiring applicants.  

For legal reasons I won’t say who or how that research helped, but I’m sure you can figure out that looking at someone’s Myspace, Facebook, or Linkedin profile before hiring them might give you some insight…  anyway, back to making money…

If you can fog a mirror, you can create your profile on Facebook and Myspace and upload videos to Youtube… although don’t just do it because you can.  Take the time to visit Facebook and Myspace and search for some “how-to” videos on Youtube and think about what would be of value to upload.

Make sure you follow the rules and etiquette of each site because they have strict policies and if you don’t follow their guidelines, all of your time and energy will be wasted.  They all understand that marketers are going to find ways to benefit, and most have proper procedures for placing ads, links, and promos.

The key to the Web 2.0 sites is to PARTICIPATE and get involved in the areas that interest YOU or YOUR PROSPECTS. That will help you build new relationships that will lead to new business.

Your homework for today is to create your profiles on the top Social Media sites of the day, like http://www.myspace.com/, http://www.facebook.com/, and upload videos to http://www.youtube.com/.    

Oh, yeah… here is the formal explanation of Web 2.0. Guess where I found it?

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you’re a professional speaker, workshop or seminar leader producing live events or webinars using PowerPoint slides leader, check out http://www.slideshare.net  A fantastic source for sharing all types of presentations.  As a professional speaker, it’s a great way for me to upload great content and when formatted properly… with links back to my sites… it becomes a great marketing resource too. 

What do you think about Web 2.0 for Business?  Comment below and let me know.

Social Media Marketing (SMM) | Social Networking | Social Marketing

Do you have a profile page on Facebook.com? Or one on MySpace.com or Linkedin.com? What about the other social marketing sites and getting listed at social bookmarking sites like del.icio.us and a host of others.  Are you posting Videos on YouTube.com?

Wait, you say. Aren’t those just for kids or college students to share gossip?

Not any more.

Not for a while now. These and other social networking sites like are being used every day by savvy business people looking for new ways to connect with potential clients and generate business. Granted… I should have been using them for at least a couple of years and now we’re jumping in full force to stake our claim and it’s already paying off in more traffic and higher search engine ranknigs.

You can use them to increase traffic to your site, gain a competitive edge and improve communication with your target market.

You’ll also want to secure your online identity and protect your brand.  My definition about social media is a community web site that allow users to:

• Create profiles and custom accounts
• Grow a network of friends
• Submit content or collaborate… Photos, video, etc.
• Vote on content
• Tag content
• Comment on the content

I’ll be sharing with you exactly what I’m doing and how well it’s working.

Here’s my simple 5 Step Plan for using Social Media Marketing to build my business.

1. Be an Active Participant on each site.
2. Have a Consistent Presence on the top 25 Social Media Sites
3. Add Value to the Targeted Prospects in each Category and Topic area.
4. Encourage feedback from the readers to create discussions and conversations.
5. Post my opinions and comments on other blogs, profiles and postings

MySpace:  http://www.myspace.com/primeconcepts

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/primeconcepts

Newsvine:  http://primeconcepts.newsvine.com/

Linkedin: “Ford Saeks” http://www.linkedin.com/in/primeconcepts

FaceBook: “Ford Saeks”

And we’ve claimed our blog on Technorati.com

What do you think about Social Media Sites?  Post your opinions and comments.